German Roundup

Bayern demands goals from record signing Makaay

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Bayern Munich greeted Dutch striker Roy Makaay on Tuesday by demanding that their record signing deliver in just one way -- with goals.

But a news conference to unveil the forward was delayed several times for a total of three hours before it was cancelled because the German champions wanted to clear up formalities with Spanish club Deportivo Coruna about the transfer.

"The verbal agreements that we made with Deportivo La Coruna were sent in writing in a fax to La Coruna, but the fax has not yet been answered," Bayern spokesman Markus Hoerwick said.

"We assume that the transfer will be wrapped up as planned, but it wouldn't make any sense to announce the transfer as completed now," he added. Hoerwick said the delay had nothing to do with Makaay's fitness.

Bayern hope to hold the briefing with Makaay on Wednesday.

Earlier, Bayern commercial manager Uli Hoeness said the German champions had paid 17.7 million euros ($20.05 million) to bring Makaay to the club from Spain.

"We expect just one thing, goals, nothing more," Hoeness said of Makaay, the second most expensive Bundesliga signing after Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso, who cost Borussia Dortmund 25.6 million euros two years ago.

Makaay, with 23 caps and two goals for his country, arrived in Munich on Tuesday for a medical and an expected signing of a four-year contract before the planned news conference.

The 28-year-old, whose four goals against Bayern in the Champions League last season helped eliminate the German club from the competition, is not expected to start in the first divsion match on Saturday against Hanover.

Makaay was top scorer in the Spanish league last season with 29 goals, while his 22 goals in his first season helped Depor to a first league title in 2000.

"Such a player enriches Bayern and the whole Bundesliga," said Franz Beckenbauer, who also announced on Monday that he was willing to stay on as club president.

Beckenbauer, who is head of Germany's organising committee for the 2006 World Cup, had threatened not to put himself forward for re-election in November.

Midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic said he and his team mates were looking forward to playing with Makaay and not worried about losing their places.

"We're naturally all delighted he's coming," he told German television. "It's more competition for us and everyone knows competition makes you better."

Injury-ridden Dortmund could target Babbel

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) -- Borussia Dortmund said Tuesday it may sound out FC Liverpool about acquiring defender Markus Babbel, a former German international now on the outside with his English club.

Dortmund, which is facing Champions League qualifying, is desperate to fill the holes left by the injuries to key players including Germany World Cup defenders Christoph Metzelder and Thorsten Frings.

"Our roster is too thin after the latest injuries. We're thinking very very seriously about acquiring another player," said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc.

"I'm not ruling anything out," he added of an attempt to sign Babbel.

Dortmund will have to move fast, since UEFA's deadline for signing a new player that can play in a Champions League qualifying match is noon Thursday. The club, Bundesliga champions two years ago, was third last season, forcing it into a playoff.

Babbel would be available without a transfer fee and no longer fits in Liverpool's plans after a year out recovering from Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a rare inflammation of the nervous system.

The English club has lost faith in Babbel after the German failed to regain his starting job following his illness. Lately, he has been playing with the reserves.

"The staff have been disappointed with Markus' attitude towards the club and the fans," Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said. "He is no longer in my plans."

Before the illness sidelined him, the 30-year-old Babbel was regarded as a top international defender at Liverpool, former club Bayern Munich and Germany.

Dortmund had planned to stand pat with a young talented team that reached the Champions League's second round last season, but the injuries have scrambled those plans.

Just six days ago, Dortmund reacted by acquiring Brazilian international midfielder Flavio Conceicao on loan from Real Madrid.

But the team was hit with another key injury Saturday when French midfielder Guy Demel hurt his knee in the club's Bundesliga opener, a 2-2 draw against Schalke.

Dortmund's defense, one of the German league's best, has also lost Germany goalie Jens Lehmann to Arsenal this year, while German World Cup player Sebastian Kehl earned himself a six-week suspension by shoving a referee during a preseason match.

Beckenbauer to stay on as Bayern president

MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Franz Beckenbauer changed his mind Tuesday, saying he will stay on as Bayern Munich president for another term of three years.

The German soccer idol had announced earlier he would step down when elections are held again in November because his time is dominated by being president of the 2006 World Cup organization committee.

"I've let myself be talked into this," Beckenbauer said. "Everyone begged me to stay."

Beckenbauer has long since turned over the daily running of Germany's biggest club to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and business manager Uli Hoeness, but still retains a powerful influence on the club he brought to prominence as a player with three European titles in the 1970s.

Beckenbauer will have to stand for re-election, but that is a formality because of his popularity.